Miscellaneous Fanfiction Writing Thread (Solicit Advice Here)

[Xamusel]

=.= Leo, what you call help is what I call being uselessly vague, unfortunately.

[SeiKeo]

=.= Leo, what you call help is what I call being uselessly vague, unfortunately.

And so is your question, so it seems like it's not such a good one unless you can tell some specific issue, no?

[Xamusel]

*ahem* In any case, it's in general that I have problems with getting back into the groove of Nasu stuff, especially since I am trying to get some form of understanding in it that I don't have now.

[Frostyvale]

well for me it's like I spend an hour on the same paragraph for multiple nights until i decide to rewrite a paragraph I wrote ealier, which also takes multiple nights. rinse and repeat

then I eventually get frustrated at my lack of progress and get anxiety about writing which is why it takes me so long to get over that initial hump of just sitting down and writing

One possible solution to this problem is to replace the paragraph with a basic outline of the meaning of the paragraph and to move on until diction and tone come to you later.

As for anxiety, that is a problem alleviated by focusing on the process itself rather than the consequences, as far as I have come to understand.

- - - Updated - - -

*ahem* In any case, it's in general that I have problems with getting back into the groove of Nasu stuff, especially since I am trying to get some form of understanding in it that I don't have now.

Read the Visual Novel Fate / Stay Night.

[Xamusel]

And so is your question, so it seems like it's not such a good one unless you can tell some specific issue, no?

...dude, I really, really feel like giving myself an atomic facepalm for this. It's super complicated to get me to be specific at times like this (it'd take me nearly forever to get the issue out).

[Imperial]

I've noticed I'm the weird sort of person who writes the most when I have the least time to do it, and I write not at all when I have all the time in the world.

I'm newly unemployed, for instance, and the feelings of worthlessness and ennui have killed any creative impulse I might have had. I just want to hit fast forward on my life until I have a job again.

[Xamusel]

White Len, yeah, I get that much... I honestly wish I had enough time in a day to read the Visual Novels (what with how my schedule is wonky even on a good day).

[Tobias]

One possible solution to this problem is to replace the paragraph with a basic outline of the consequences of the paragraph and to move on until diction and tone come to you later.

I have actually had to do that a couple of times. Not so much if I am having trouble with a paragraph as I have started thinking ahead a bit, suddenly realized I just mentally put together a great scene, so ill just write a couple of lines detailing whatever the scene was supposed to accomplish and then skip forward to put down the aforementioned scene on paper.

[Gl❀w]

*ahem* In any case, it's in general that I have problems with getting back into the groove of Nasu stuff, especially since I am trying to get some form of understanding in it that I don't have now.

I find the easiest way to get back to inspiration and "feel" of things is to go to the source material. Whether you liked the VN, the anime, hell even just fanart, try to spend some time re-acquainting yourself with the world, it's structure, and it's characters on an intimate level. Sometimes you can know a lot about a thing and get too far abstracted from it in the process.

So my recommendation is to grab a hot drink, some chips, and settle in to enjoy before you produce.

[Xamusel]

Thanks, Glow, I suppose that helps me out a lot better than normal.

[Frostyvale]

White Len, yeah, I get that much... I honestly wish I had enough time in a day to read the Visual Novels (what with how my schedule is wonky even on a good day).

Read the Let's Play of the Visual Novel Fate / Stay Night in a tenth of the time.

[Xamusel]

Heh... that sounds like a good idea, White Len, thanks.

...eventually, I'll just go back to the Visual Novel playing, so I'll keep the games on my hard drive.

[Frostyvale]

I have actually had to do that a couple of times. Not so much if I am having trouble with a paragraph as I have started thinking ahead a bit, suddenly realized I just mentally put together a great scene, so ill just write a couple of lines detailing whatever the scene was supposed to accomplish and then skip forward to put down the aforementioned scene on paper.

It is good to write what is fun, and therefore if you focus firstly on writing the scenes that it is enjoyable to imagine and describe your chances of producing more go up.

Solving the problems of construction and whatnot may preferably take a back seat to that. As an author you have the advantage of not having to write like you read. There is no need to produce scenes in the order of presentation.

[Siriel]

I've noticed I'm the weird sort of person who writes the most when I have the least time to do it, and I write not at all when I have all the time in the world.

That's most people for everything actually. It's a fairly well documented effect.

[Frostyvale]

I've noticed I'm the weird sort of person who writes the most when I have the least time to do it, and I write not at all when I have all the time in the world.

I'm newly unemployed, for instance, and the feelings of worthlessness and ennui have killed any creative impulse I might have had. I just want to hit fast forward on my life until I have a job again.

If you want to feel good you can simply disassociate your sense of satisfaction from your condition and convince yourself that you're perfectly satisfied with your circumstances, giving yourself the ability to ignore your negative emotions enough to have some fun until you go about your necessary activities.

If you want a good suggestion for the latter statement, then I recommend drinking heavily at least once every day.

- - - Updated - - -

That's most people for everything actually. It's a fairly well documented effect.

Very true! I find that I tend to finish almost everything faster if I tell myself that I have a limited amount of time to do it. For example, insisting that I can only take ten minutes to write a certain set of things produces the result of achieving that goal in a limited form.

I've found the same to be true with brushing teeth, bathing, etc.

Constriction of time produces such a wonderful rush of activity.

[Raylen Cypher]

Heh... that sounds like a good idea, White Len, thanks.

...eventually, I'll just go back to the Visual Novel playing, so I'll keep the games on my hard drive.

http://lparchive.org/Fatestay-night/

There's the LP archive of it if you don't have the game or prefer reading at a faster pace.

It is good to write what is fun, and therefore if you focus firstly on writing the scenes that it is enjoyable to imagine and describe your chances of producing more go up.

Solving the problems of construction and whatnot may preferably take a back seat to that. As an author you have the advantage of not having to write like you read. There is no need to produce scenes in the order of presentation.

Huh, the thought didn't cross my mind before. Thanks for pointing that out.

[Gl❀w]

Is there any recommendation on spacing between installments? Say, if you have a couple chapters written, should you post them in quick succession or try to keep a consistent update time between them?

[Tobias]

That's most people for everything actually. It's a fairly well documented effect.

siriel is right you know. Though as I noted earlier that doesnt seem to be the case with my last few weeks production, hence my earlier question

[Xamusel]

Right... thanks, Raylen Cypher, I had forgotten where I put that link.

Actually, it might not be necessary, since I have the game. Still, I'll keep that in mind, alright?

[SeiKeo]

Is there any recommendation on spacing between installments? Say, if you have a couple chapters written, should you post them in quick succession or try to keep a consistent update time between them?

Definitely wait a few days: gives the existing readership space to breathe and, well, it keeps the thread bumped for people to notice for longer.